What to do if in an accident?

Chances are you will be involved in at least one auto accident in your lifetime. Traffic accidents occur daily and range in severity. But regardless of how severe your traffic accident may be, there are a few steps everyone needs to follow in the aftermath of a car accident.

Immediately after the accident, check yourself, your passengers, and the individual(s) in the other vehicle for injuries. If there are injuries that need medical attention, seek help from emergency medical personnel by calling 911. Before you even look at the damage done to your car, check everyone involved for injuries.

If you are not in need of immediate medical attention, safely exit the vehicle and move away from traffic.

Call the police. If the accident is serious, or it is a hit and run situation, the authorities need to be notified. Most insurance companies require you to call the authorities in a hit and run situation if you want your damage to be covered. Serious accidents sometimes require police involvement if the accident is backing up traffic or if debris is blocking the street. Also, by contacting the police all the details will be recorded on a police report, which may help your case later on.

Take time to survey the scene of the accident to make yourself aware of important details such as: identify the driver of the other vehicle(s) involved, identify any possible witnesses to the accident – be sure to point them out to the investigating officer, look for skid marks from the tires of any vehicle involved, as well as physical evidence such as broken glass, broken tail lights, car parts, etc. The location location of this debris in the road way will often reveal the “point of impact” of the vehicles which can become crucial evidence.

Notify your insurance company. No matter the severity of the accident, it is always important to let your insurance company know about the incident. Even in the case of a hit and run where you don’t know who hit your car, you should immediately let your insurance company know. This will protect your rights including claims against uninsured motorists.

If you have a camera or camera phone take pictures of the vehicles, the accident scene, the roadway, the driver(s) and passenger(s) of the other vehicles.

Collect contact details of witnesses who were not involved in the accident. Obtain their names, addresses and telephone numbers.

Obtain a copy of the accident report and case number from the police officer.

Sign no document without consulting an attorney.

Contact the expert Alabama auto accident lawyers at the law office of Wettermark & Keith, LLC., today. Our team of seasoned injury lawyers have the knowledge and resources needed to make your case a success. Call us today at 334-284-0014 for a free case evaluation.

Here at Wettermark & Keith, LLC., no case is too big and no case is too small for our expert injury lawyers to pursue. Our top attorneys represent each and every client with the utmost respect, compassion, and employ the thorough legal expertise needed to make their case a success. We realize that this is likely a difficult situation for you and possibly your family and are here for you.

If you have been injured of lost a loved one due to the negligence of another person in a car accident, contact our top Alabama injury lawyers today. Together we can seek a financial compensation figure that meets your needs as a victim and can continue to provide for you, long after this ordeal is over.

If you wish to speak to us directly, feel free to call one of our three branches. Birmingham Office 205.933.9500, Huntsville Office 256.536.801 or our Montgomery Office 334.284.0014.